dilapidation

Definition of dilapidationnext
as in disrepair
the state of being unattended to or not cared for the sad dilapidation of the old downtown movie theater has finally prompted local preservationists to mount a restoration campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dilapidation Hurricane Katrina accelerated the building’s dilapidation, and in 2019 it was demolished. Clint Smith, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026 The whole place is marked by decay and dilapidation. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025 The opening of an 11-room boutique hotel is an unremarkable affair in most places, but amid the rutted and vibrant dilapidation of Cayo Hueso, a working-class stronghold of central Havana, Andrés Levín's Tribe Caribe is a beacon. Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dilapidation
disrepair
Noun
  • In a state of disrepair after years of neglect and on the brink of potential demolition, the home went up for sale in 2009 and sold that same year to preservationist Josh Gorrell for $580,000.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2026
  • By the mid-1970s, after desegregation, many of these clubs closed down and eventually fell into disrepair.
    SPIN Team, SPIN, 20 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dilapidation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dilapidation. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on dilapidation

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster